Apparatus for guiding independently-moving elements



H. I. WASHBURN. APPARATUS FOR GUIDING INDEPENDENTLY MOVI'NG ELEMENTS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT- 23| I919 1,435,435. Patented Nov. 14, 1922.

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F1 @121 WITNESSES: INVENTOR:

Jzferberfil wasizum,

A TTORNEYS.

H. I. WASHBURN. APPARATUS FOR GUIDING INDEPENDENTLY MOVING ELEMENTS.

I APPLICATION FILED SEPT-23.15MB- 1,435,435. Patented Nov. 14, 1922.

3 SHEETS-SHEEI 2.

INVENTOR: jferqfl I. wasjwunz,

A TTORIVEYIX H. I. WASHBUHN.

APPARATUS FOR GUIDING INDEPENDENTLY MOVING ELEMENTS. APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 23, ms.

1,435,435, Patented Nov. 14, 1922.

SHEET 3.

3 SHEETS IN VE/V TOR lows. I

'F'g; II; is" a verticalaxial 'sectionalvview f0 all whom it may concern: w

Patented Nov. 14, 1922. I

HERBERT I. 'wA sI-I'BUR N, joniym'ononie, mew.) a f p I ArPAa 'rUs FOR coining m ammntmmmvrm E MENT SQ' Application fil ed September 23,1919. s rial No. 3253555 Be it known that 1, *HERBERT certain new and useful Improvementsin Apparatus for Guiding IndependentlyMow i'ng' Elements, whereof the following is a companying drawings. The: invention relates; to apparatus for guidingindependently mov ng elements over .aspiral 'course,"and is more specially adapted for use'in connection witli tractors for agricultural implements; although it ma y, with equal facility, be employed for other analogous purposes as will become apparent from'disclosure herein. v

The invention is directed to means for controlling the mode of o'perationo'l the appai'atiis so 'thata change maybe effected in the-'rateof variation of theradius [of the spiral traced bythe guided element.

' The invention is further directed to a guiding apparatus of the general character above outlined, including a receiviiiig n'ieans upon which a flexible connector is wound; mechanism for driving thel'GClVlIlg means; devices whereby the receiving means may be temporarily disconnected from its driving means to perm t unwinding of the flein-- from a, distance, beforesetting the guided element in motion.

- The invention further includes means whereby the flexible connector is constantly lubricated (during the operation ct the apparatus. v v M The invention also comprehends certain novel structural details which will be better understood from the description which fol- In the drawings Fig. is an elevation of the guiding apparatus conveniently embod'ying my invention.

of the same along the plane indicatedfby the arrows II. in Figs. I.'-.aiid'"III.

"Fig 1 III, is a staggered plan sectional l. VASE BURN, of Magnolim in the county of Camdemand State of New Jersey, have invented 3 lug; V.

specification, reference being had to the ac view of the device indicated generally, by the a1Tows-III. III.-in Fig. II. f y? J Fig. is an elevationon "an enlarged scale, showing certain details to betterad vantage." i

the line VI.VI. L in Fig; III. showing l de tails of a latch form'ing 'part of the me'cha nismwhereby the mode of 'operationfof 'the apparatus may be changed."

differential :gear drive for'fthel winding Jd'r'u i a c I F1 VIII. is a plan sectional viewbalong the line ;VI'II.VIII. in 1 Fig. IV, illustrating "certain details of a setting mechanism by which: the drumis freedsio that the wire may beimanually unwound therefrom preparatory to starting the apparatus in .opelation.) w I i Fig. is a diagrammatic viewyshowing the: relation of certain parts of the mecha-, nis'm"pictured rFigi vllI. '1 i 1 F is a roller associatedwitli'tlie automatic tripping nieclianism ofFig; V.

Fig. XI. is a detail' sectional view along The device as "a whole is supported'b-yf a post I," about which the moving element rotates, attachment-being effected by means of a flexible connector in the formof a wire or cable 2, which in'operatiom-is held taut by-reason of the tendency ofjthe guided element to move tangentially, to the curvati' re ftravelk w i -T he" course followed ,b-ytheguided'ielementis determined by the cooperation of'a receiving drum 8, which may be employed as awinding orlan unwinding memberfor the flexible" connector, accordingly as to H "is a fragmentary section offthe wind ng drum, "lllllstia'tlng more specially the details of an automatic tripping mecha- Fig. YI'Ji's'a partial sectional viewalo'ng Fig. VII. shows in: perspectivea "clutch/ member cooperative with one element" ofa the plane of the arrows XI.,XI. inFig. II

whether 'thed'esired' progression be toward a 'bracket 6 by bolts 7. Said bracket is ful crumedabout a hollow. "bearing extension 'or away from the centre post or standard, i

W186" attached to the" centre post Se;

, bined rotation-of the sleeve-s21, and 3'7.

10, which is in mesh with a spur pinion 11, threaded upon the upper end of a shaft 12, extending through the bearing "member 8. Directly beneath the pinion, the shaft 12, is formed with a clutch member 13, which'is adapted to co-operate with a corresponding clutch member, formed in the upper face of a disc flange 14, (Fig. VII) on the inem-' her 8. The two clutch elements are normally held in the engaged relation shown v in Fig. II. by means of a locking mechanism comprising a collar'15 secured to the shaft 12, and provided witha cam wing 16, which co-operates with a projection 17, formed upon the fitting 9. At the lower end of the shaft 12 is an operating handle. Referring to Figs. VIII. and IX.,- it will be seen that as the wing upon the collar 15 is moved in the direction of the arrow a rigid locking is effected by the wedging action, 1

the cam inclination upon the wingv being op posed to the slope ofthe clutchteeth. By this arrangement, the shaft 12 is positively locked against accidental displacement dun ing the operation of the apparatus.

The drum 3 is enclosed with aprotective casing 20, which has capacity for independent rotation with respect to the former, and is secured to a; sleeve 21, which is received within the sleeve 1 of said drum. The inner end of the flexible connector is attached to the drum at 22 (see F III), and. in order that the casing may move with the same, I have provideda followerarm 23, which is hinged at 2-12-1- to the said caS- ing. At its outer end, said arm carries a sheave 25, which'engages the connector 2. Bow springs 26'26 effective upon the follower arm serve ;-to maintain the sheave in operative contact with the connector, and also prevent rattling;

'At the point where the guide wire enters the casing, the latter.;is provided with an off-set 27 having a hinged door 23, normally held closed, by a coiledspring 29, encircling the hinge pin 30. Mounted in suitable retainers, one formed in the wall of the offset, andthe other in the door, are opposed felt pads 3333, between which .the connector 2 moves as it enters thecasing. this arrangement, the'pads are readily accessible to permit replenishment of the lubricant from time to time. Operating with in aradial extension. 35 of the casing, is an arm 36, having an integral fulcrum sleeve 37,fitting within thesleeve 21 already described. The dattersleeve is slotted as shown at 38 in Figs. 11 and XI, so that the arm-36 may shift vertically during com.-

sit itsouter. down-turned extremity arm 36, supports a she-ave 40, which :engages connector 2, and guides the same in its motion as itais spooled uponthe drum. Referring to a? l'l i-itwi lzb se fi a the lower QIIFLQ'E the sleeve 37, is internally threaded to engage with an axial screw 12-. The latter is held from relative rotation by an integral wing 43, seated within a receiving slot in the bottomof the sleeve 1. The pitch of the screw is such that, as the connector is drawn upon the drum, the sleeve 37 is gradually moved upward or downward (according to the direction of travel of the guided element) so that even spooling is effected.

It will be noted by reference to Figs. HI. and'IV. that the felt pads 33, correspond substantially in extent, to the width of, the drum and notwithstanding the vertical motion of the wire, are always in wiping contact with the same. As a consequence, the lubricant is constantly applied to the wire which is thus rendered proof against corrosion.

The casing 20 is closed at the bottom by a diaphragm145, which is supported by bracket 6. During certain conditionsof operation ofthe apparatus, the casing 20 is locked in fixed relation with the diaphragm by means of a latch member 46, guided by a strap 41-7, and adapted to cooperate with a socket member 48 on the casing as best seen in Fig. VI. The said latch member provided with a protruding ring L9 by which it maybe manually actuated from the ex terior. To the inner end of the member 46- is pivoted one arm 510 of a bell-crank lever 51 fulcrumed about a pin 52 secured. inthe bracket 6. The other arm 53 of the lever is provided with a projection 54;, which is cooperative with a notch 55 in the peripheral flange 14 of member 8. The bell-crank lever 51, is subject to the action of a spring 56, whichat one end engages a fixed pin 57, and at the other, a lug 58 formed on the arm- 50.

- e From Fig. III. it will be seenjthat as the bell-crank lever is shifted, the spring will be transposed therewith, soas to hold saidlever in either of its rest positions.

After the wire has been fullywound upon the drum, in order that the operative may again unwind the wire to begin operations anew, the clutch-members are disconnected by turning the shaft 12 to disengage the locking members1-6 and 17, so that the drum may be freed for rotation, whereu imn the operative may, by drawing upon the wire, readily unwind the same- In order to temporarily hold the-.pinion elevatedand the clutch disconnected, I have provideda holder element in the form of aydonble armed lever 60, having at one extremitya notched enlargement 61. which is adapted to engage under a head 62 on the top ofthe I shaft 12. The said lever is ful'crumed about a bracket 63 secured to the member 6,and is subject to the-action'of a coiled spring 64 which tends to force the extremity Gl i'ntonengagement with the head 62, The

other extremity 65 of the lever isadapted for co-operation wit-ham automatic tripping mechanism Which comes" into" play after-a predetermined length of the connector is released from the drumxf I k ThlS tripping nieeha'nlsm ncludes a 111lovable member in the form' of a bell: crank havingthe arms 66 andLGT and fulcrulned at 68 to the inner periphery othe drum. The

arm 66' of this "member carries a-roll'er' 69 p which, under the influenc'eofa spring/t0 is" protruded through an opening 71, "in the c face otthedrum seas to be engagedfby'the lVhen in this position the-hooked end of the other arm 67 of the tripping member is clear ofthe extremity '65 of the double armed lever 60.

However, assoon fas' thefroller 6,9-is re-v leased, the hook 67is-projected-by the'a etion of the" spring 0, and as the, drum revolves, engagesthe arm 65 therebyreleasing the sh ttso that" the latterg'itogether with the pinion thereon drops. Ase consequence the clutch facesztiit omatically' re-engage, complete intermesh being established by subsequent induced rotation of the pinion. In order that-the roller69 may be restricted to engage only with thelast"roundfo'f the flexible-connector,- the latter is formed} as shown inFigs. V. and-X. wsth "aish'arp projecting flange 72, locatedat' the proper: level to wedge between thesaidround andthe succeeding turn of the connector. The specific purpose of'this provision Will 1 become apparent from the descriptionoftheoperation of thedev'ice. Under certain conditions, it

operative position when the trippin'g o'f'the holder elementflnavbe' effected by'means of a 'pendant chain --73,- attached to arm 65 i of the lever 6'O,andextending to the-"exdecreasing radius:f" In the course offlthis operation, the ar1n 23 fOl'lQW SLiZhB COHIlGC tor 2, thereby caus'lng'the casing-20, to r0 terio'r of the drum enclosure through an opening 74 if1thecdiaphragm e5.

v, "One niodeof operation'of theeppdratus iszas follows: Assuming the parts 'po sitionedes'shown in FigL-HIk-i'. e. the 'drum 3 heldstatio nary' by reason'fof the pinion l1 intermeshedwith the internal gear 10 beingf'lockedj and the bracketG locke d b j the member 51,--rota;tion 0f the'guided e'le ment in 3 the direction of "the "arrow, results" simply in the inding'o'f the coiiiiector", upon the'drum. At each rotation, a length; corresponding to the periphery otthe drum is taken up, so that the guided element moves along *a spiralcourse 'of constantly tate independently about thedrum; Sim

ilarlythe guide arm 36, is induced to fat low the inovementoffthe "eonnector tl 'rough the instrumentality or the engegingsheave indicated by the arrov effective length. {oi the connector for jfea hf ced'ure, it is desired to: begin anew, the. oper- 'ati'on first described; theoperative proceeds i follows The handle at the'lovverf end ot isjdesirable to manually restore'the clutch to its [normal firstly to establish,- 5 and thereafterto 1 cordance with the latter) 40.111 the course i of this action', "the iaririii I guided downwardly the co-operationof, i

evenly spoole'd upon the *drilimgfunitil fit" 3 *ispractlczill-ygalltaken up, where:

operative brings -th s i If it I-be-Kdesired wt'o etrace- -th "t t when the several ico o' e rativ irts of the permitting I agradual g unwinding potthe c onnectorythe' lncrem'ent change ftl 'e j convolution; the fspiral? coma belng ithesamefa's beforel'gj traced i Hr inste l (of resorti 'g ito th shaft 12,:ofthe 'lock'in'g mechanism isturned-j so as to, disengage ,thefca'i'n" il'fif from the projection 1T, andthe?shaft togethei"' ith pinion 1'1 thence" ra,ised toldisengage' the clutczhl f 'f-ji i As a consequence,'the holding under the*""actionfof, 'thefspring 6 91 'afitoj-v metioally slips 'b'eneaththe headYGQ, on the 95 I freed,j may be reejdily rotated to perinit the v I 'Withdreiv'al of'the connecto'r,"untilqunivinda P ing has proceeded to the pointjlshovvn -in l Fig, III-5f Directlybefore] re'itfchi'ng'fthis point, the tripping-element had berfire i leased sothat iit's'hooked endjshiftedintothe 1- path o-f'the extremity -65, oftheXtripping element, and through rotation offthekidrum, Y Y i holderffrombeneaith "the head 62,1615 {the 4 7 shaft'f12,' thereby fiermitting' the/flatter o '1 drop',and effecting{automatically-, he ire-engagement of the clutchnlt intijf Ihe to repeat at thispo'int,g th9it through "the reversed inclination oftlie lockingrnembers l 16 andf 17, {with respect to" l'thefcli'itch teethjp' the induced rotation flot'the pinion tends t'ain theiriterloc between these In order that; the operative in tor hasf-beenj ivithdrapinto the predat y matic couplin lot i the" ,"clut oh members have""pro'vided, t?" in Fig. La semaphore 8O, hev i-nging I colorings upon? 'oppesi' f side semaphore isj attaohed to the shaft I havf form 'of also secured v a w e stem the gen J ,v i is simply necess'ery' to reverse tlie {direction 75 f rs bearing member 8. preliminary steps, the axis of rotation of i the guided implementis transferred to the behaviorj otthe apparatusniay be observed "from a- -comparat ively remote point;

Again, if it'be desired to reset the clutch 'fati'any; point Within-the limitsof the guide wire, this may be accomplished by tripping the holder lever 60, manually, by pulling upon the pendant chain 73.

f In effecting the otherlmode of operation of the apparatus, the; operative sh fts the latch 46, to secure the casing 20, against independent rotationrelative to the drum 3, and at the same time by virtue of the con- .nection of the bell crank lever 51, with.

said latch causes the disengagement of the proyection 54, and the disk flange 14, of the As a result of these fulcrum bearing 8, and the drum moves bodily about said ,axis under the support of the bracket 6. The drum is now, however, free to rotate independently with respectto' the'pinion 11 so that a differential action takes place. I w

Thus for each rotation of the guided implement, the drum is shifted counterwise with respect to the direction of said rotation;. the length of the-wire taken up in each instance depending of course upon ,the ratio of the gears. In other respects apparatus may therefore be accordingly set to guide the independently movable element either 'tor cultivating'or ploughing as may be desired. ,If further variation should be desired. in.

the swath determined by the apparatus,

the pinion 11, may be replaced by others 01 larger or smaller dimensions whereby the gear-ratio is correspondingly changed. In

orderto permit such substitution, the several parts carried by the bracket 6, protrude through open ngs in the diaphragm 45, so

that the latter together, with the, socket member 5, may be shifted and the drum readjusted to accommodate the change, and

thereafter l e-clamped by the bolts 7' into fixed position .4

Having-thus described my invention, I

claims! ,2 l.,-, In an apparatus for guiding independentlyflmoving elements, the combination of a drum; a flexible connector adapted to be wound on said drum; driving means for the drum; devices for disconnecting said d um from its, Clli ingmeanS to permit the unwinding of the flexible connector thereii'rom; and means for automatically reconnecting the driving meansaiter a predetermined length of the flexible connector has I been unwound from'the drum. I

.2, Inan apparatus for guiding independently moving elements, the oombination' oi a drum; a flexible connector, adapted to be wound upon said drum; driving means for the drum; 'a clutch whereby said'drum may .ijG ClISCOHHGCtBCl from thls driving means to permit the unwinding ot-the flexible conneetor; and means for automatically restoring said clutch to activity after apredeter-- mined-length of the connector has been unwound from, the drum. i

3. In an apparatustor guiding independently moving elements, the combination of a drum; a flexible connectoradapted to be wound upon said drum; driving means for the drum; a clutch whereby the drum may be disconnected from its driving means to permit the unwinding of the flexible connector, and means carried by said drun'i.

for automatically restoring said 'clutoh to activity after a predetermined length of the connector has been unwound. i

; 4. In an apparatus for guiding, independently moving elements, the combination-oi a drum; a flexible connector adapted to be a drum; a flexible connector; adapted .to be wound upon saiddrum; driving means for the drum; a clutchfor said driv ng means; a holding element whereby said clutch may be temporarily held disengaged to permit unwinding of the flexible connectorfrom the drum; a tripping elementnorinally held retracted when the drum 'iSglOtiClQCl, but which upon the departure of the last round of the connector is automatically projected to engage the holding element-to effect-release of the clutch to activity;

- 6. Ion an apparatus for guiding independently moving elements, the combination oi a drum; flexible connector adapted tobe wound upon said drum; driving means for the drum a clutch for said driving means ;-.a holding element whereby said clutch may be temporarilyheld disengaged to) permit unwinding of the flexible connector from the drum; a tripping element normally held re tracted by the finalround of the connector upon the drum, but which upon the deparmes 13 5 i 'j -:;.tur eof-said round, is automatically projected to engage the holding element to effect re-,

lease of theclutch to activity. I

be temporarily heldQdis'engagedfto permitnunwindingof the flexible connector from thedrumga spring press-edtripping element pivoted intermediate its ends to the inner periphery ofthe drum; a roller carried upon one extremity off-said element, and adapted to protrude through an opening in the drum to be engaged by the coiled connector wherebythe oppositeiextremity ofsaid elementupontthe bearingpmembenfr v. I 14. In an apparatusfor guidingQindeg I pendently moving elements, the combination is normally held retracted, but upon the departure oft-he lastqround of the connector is;freed so as. toprojectinto engagement;

with the holding lever to effect a of the clutch' to activity. p t

8. In an apparatus for guiding independ ently moving elenie ntsythe combination of a release drum? a flexiblernnnectorhadapted tobe i wound uponsaid driim; a protectivecasmg surrounding the drum, said casingvhaving an opening for the passage of the connector; and lubricating. pads-arranged at the sides of *the opening in Wiping contact With' tl1e connector.

9x111 an apparatus for: guiding independ-' ently moving. elements; the combination-of (111111115121 spcoling mechanismjaflexible con-.-

necto'r; a protective casing? surrounding the drum, said casing having a slottedopening3- and lubricating pads arranged at the sides of the opening, between which the connector passes in wi ing contact as its is shifted laterally of the drum in the spooling operation. f Y

10, In an apparatus for guiding inde;

pendently moving-elements, the combination of a drum; afiexible connector adapted to be Wound upon sa dv drum; a protectlve casing surrounding the drum, said casing having an opening for the passage of the connector lubricating. pads arranged at the sides of the opening in Wiping contact with the connector one of said pads being mount; ed in a retractible holder to permit access for the replenishing" of the lubricant.

. 1.1. In an apparatus for guiding, indev pendently moving elements, the combination of a drum; a flexible connector adapted to be Wound upon said drum; 'a protective caslng freely rotatable about said drum; and means for effecting movement ofth e casing under the propulsion of the flexible connector.

, 12. In an apparatus for guiding inde-c pendently moving elements, the combinatlon of a drum; a flexible connector adapted to.

be ivound upon said drum; a protective cas ing freely rotatable about the .drum and means" for effecting-movement of! the "casing.

under thepropulsion of theflexible cone nectoii,said-means including affollovver-arin 1 p votally attached toflthe;cas1ng,rand hav ng at its outer :end; sh'd mg engagement, with the flexible connector; I

etyfor the drum; capable o )tatingahout 13. In .an apparatus :for guiding, indev p pendently movingqelements, ;the .'c ombination- "F of adrum;,afflexible connectoradaptedrto he [A Wound upon said drumfl gia'support-ing'bracliti-Xedbearing memberin ionefilnode of opera tion of the apparatus and means for locking said bracket tojits bearing in effectin'ganother-imode'offoperation of the apparatus said; locking means including a finger-f piv otedyupoll -thebracket.andadapted to 'en mae'within notch in adisc flangeiformedsf of a drum a flexibleconnector.adapted to be Wound upon said drum; a protective ca ing freely ro't'atahle'ahout the drum a mpg another mode of operation of the apparatus;

. .15;. In an apparatus for guidi'ngl inde pendently,- moving elements;- "the combination of a rotatable drum ;'zira "jfleiiible* c'onne adapted to be. woundcuponi said drum, driving gear" pinion forjthe drumgf a clutch for said pinion means for faxi ally shifting] saidepinionrto disengage "the clutch mean for temporarily holding-said pinion in its "shiftedposition'topermitunwindinglof connector from thedrum; 'and'mea'ns for an- H tomatically' actuating the holding meansfto release said pinion to permit the restora tion of the' clutch to: activity; after a pref H 16. In an apparatus "for-guiding independently moving elements; ythei'combina- ,tion of a' rotatable drum; a flexible con-1 nector adapted tobe Wound uponsaid drum; f a v a driving means for the drum; a 'clutohffor. Y said driving Ineans;.a shaft associated with. a said clutch; a -hand "lever'wvhereby said shaft may be axiallyshifted to disengage "iio ,f determined length offthe connector' s 11 1 theclutch' a head onsaid shaft; an element I from the drum and means for automati shaft, and thereby' perinit restoration of the ad p ngage beneath the head t ite j I porarily holdj said shaft in lt sfi's h ft d pop 7 i I sition'to Permit nw nding of the connector 3 a Cally ppi g. said m nt (30" release: the-Q ,5 c

rotation of the same.

117. new apparatus tci' guiding independently moving elements; a combination of'a drum; a flexible'connector adaptedto .he Wound unon said drum drivin means I L in i b :Ai'or the drum: clutch ror the'drlvin meansshaft capable of being shifted longitudinally to disengage the clutch, means for temporarily holding the shaft in its shlfted I position to permit'unwinding of the drum"; uneans for automatically actuating the holdingmeans to release said shaftand permit the restoration of the clutch tOttCtlVltY after predetermined length of the connector: is

unwound from the drum; and means for i-simultaneously effecting the automatic locking'of the clutch, the latter means includcooperative relatively movable, engaging cam members associated Withsaid shaft and inclined in opposition to the induced 18 In an apparatus for guiding inde pendently movable elements; the combina tion of a drum; a flexible connector adapted to be Wound upon said drum a driving means for the drumg-devices for disconnect ing the drum from its driving means to permit the unwinding of the flexibleeonnector therefrom, means for automatically connecting the drum With its driving means after a predeterminedlength of the flexible connector has been unwound from the drum; and asignal device associated With the latter means visible from a remote point whereby the operator may be assured of its automatic operation betoreistarting theiguided element in motion. l i

19. In, an apparatus for guiding independently movable elements ;v the combina-' tionof a --rotat able ,drum; a flexible connector adapted to be Wound upon said drum;

means for, driving said drum; a clutch forsaid driving means; a rotatable shaft I01 shifting said clutch to permlt unwlndlng of the connector from the drum; means for releasing said shaft to permitthe automatic restoration of the clutch to activity after a predetermined length of the connector is unwound from the drum; anda semaphore signal mounted on the clutch shifting shart.

vishible from a remote point so that'the operator may be assured of the proper op -o eration of the clutch before starting the guided element ininotlon. p

20. In an apparatus Ior gu ding 1ndependently moving elements, the combinaion of a drum; a flexlble connectoradapted 50 be Wound upon said drum; a rotatable protective casing for the drum; and a visible indicator on said casing whereby the move- I ment of the apparatus maybe observed from a remote point. v

21. In an apparatus for guiding independently moving elements, the combination of aconnector a take-upmeans for the connector operating means for the take-up means normally inactive to permit Withdrawal of the connector,. and means oper 

